I am writing this in 30 deg. but by the time you read it we could be wondering where the summer's gone. Such is the nature of our Yo-Yo weather! It has been great to be able to live al fresco and enjoy a few balmy evenings, though.
We were delighted to hear that Mrs Kings Pork Pies won 1st., 2nd. and 3rd. Prize in the Best Melton Pork Pie category at the British Pie awards last month. Their pies are truly scrummy and we have been selling them in the Store and on our Ploughman's Platter in Garden Cafe for several years now. Tremendous care goes into handraising them and no short cuts are taken so that even the jelly poured between the meat and the pastry case is reduced from pork bones and not bought in. Go easy on yourself and serve up salads with pork pie and other deli. Delicious!
Dates for evening opening in the Cafe are: JULY 23rd., AUG 6th. and 20th.
While we are on the subject of local producers: we also stock Heart of Gold rapeseed oil which is grown in Croxton Kerrial within view of Belvoir Castle. It ticks all the boxes for healthy lifestyle and has half the saturated fat of olive oil. Another great advantage is that it has a higher flashpoint than most other oils and so is good for cooking. Why not give it a try? It's featured in Nottinghamshire Today (June edition)
Just down the road are Belvoir Fruit Farms whose quality needs no introduction especially the Elderflower Cordial. We are seeing more and more use of it in Summer Cocktails and I noticed in the Sunday Times' "Going Up" section this week that 'The Twinkle' is a new concoction using Vodka with Elderflower Cordial, topped up with Champagne. "The vintage cocktail that packs a pretty punch".. sounds good to me!
The Longest Day has passed (21st. June) and from now on our days will become shorter. It has been staying light until nearly 10 pm. so as the light fades more each week extend your time outside with the glow of our range of Tealights. Our coloured triple ones in red and purple look terrific hanging from tree branches and the bigger single clear ones give a warm glow to an evening table.
Our latest delivery of jewellery has injected a feeling of Summer into the Store with necklaces and bracelets sporting pale turquoise, pink and aqua beads in multi strands and chunky ropes. Just right for the Holidays and, as always, very good value. Customers have been bringing their tops and dresses in to match them up with the perfect necklace. A good piece of jewellery can just add the finishing touch.
If you are having a clear out of your wardrobe, can I ask you to think of us? We are helping Paul and Diane Clark from the Baptist Church in Scunthorpe to collect leather and plastic handbags. They take them out several times a year to Eastern Europe and give them to homeless women and children so that they can keep their few personal possessions with them. Many children who have been raised in Orphanages are tipped out onto the streets once they are 16 or 17 years often with no where to live. Many find themselves living underground in the sewers where it is difficult to keep anything dry. The story is a horrifying one..so please bring your old bags into the Store and help us to help the Bag Lady!
See you soon
Jan
